Tim Grobaty: Get your out-of-towners out of the house

PLANS FOR YOUR OUT-OF-TOWNERS: We can't believe you really need ideas for what to do this weekend. You've gotta vacuum the living room, do the bathrooms, buy more presents, wrap, decorate, bake.

If you've got time to do all that plus take in a matinee performance of "The Nutcracker" you're either way more efficient than we are or you're one of the intrepid soldiers in the front lines in the ferocious War On Christmas.

There is the possibility that you have relatives in town for the holidays, with the better-than-even odds that they're underfoot already, browsing through your CD collection ("How come I haven't heard of any of these groups?") and pawing through the fridge ("Don't you have any black olives?").

Save yourself. Give 'em a wad of money and send them out to take in some local amusements. You can't go wrong with the classics, and this city is awash with classics this time of year.

For starters, there's the 30th anniversary edition of Long Beach Ballet's "The Nutcracker," which wraps up its stay at the Terrace Theater with performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. It's a mammoth production, including a full orchestra.

DICKENS AT HIS DICKENSIANEST: There's something heartwarming (eventually) about the Dickensian Christmas, and nobody does Dickensian any better than Charles Dickens, whose "A Christmas Carol" is more of a staple of the season than chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Snoopy and the Three Wise Men combined (still third, though, behind Santa and baby Jesus).

The story has been told for almost 170 years, and you can catch it again as it ends its run this season on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St.

The show will be staged tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $24. Call 562-494-1014, or swing by lbplayhouse.org.

WE GOT YOUR SNOW: Your kin whining already about missing the snow back in whatever godforsaken flyover state they're from? Shove them in the direction of the Wrigley neighborhood for the Daisy Avenue Snow Day at 11 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St. There'll be 12 tons of snow dumped at the park in which you can frolic. And if the folks miss home so much, maybe they can shovel some around.

Come for the snow, stay for the movie (title to be announced; probably something snowy) at sunset in the park's community room. Popcorn and other treats will be provided. It's all free.

CHILL: Cold enough for ya? We will never get tired of that kind of climatologist jargon. If your answer is no, then try Chill, the all-things-ice exhibit/event at the Queen Mary Dome. About 4,500 blocks of ice, weighing 2 million pounds in its stocking feet, are used for the entire exhibit, which includes some inspiring ice sculptures, plus ice tubing, ice skating, a Santa's Village and lots more.

The dome has to be kept at 9 degrees, so you can either brave it, dress warm or borrow one of the parkas provided at the site.

Tickets are basically $24.95, but there are all sorts of pricing packages available at www.queenmary.com. It's open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day - even Christmas Eve and Christmas.

FRIDAY PLAYLIST: These are the last songs you'll hear, according to the Mayan setlist: